Middle East

Deadly attack rocks mosque in Saudi Arabia

At least two people killed and seven wounded after attack on a Shia mosque in al-Ahsa, says Interior Ministry.

29 Jan 2016 12:10 GMT | Middle East, Saudi Arabia

At least two people were killed and seven others wounded in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, the Interior Ministry has said.
Saudi authorities prevented two suicide bombers from entering Imam Rida Mosque in Mahasen neigbourhood in the al-Ahsa region during Friday prayers, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing a statement by the ministry's spokesman.
"When security men stopped them, one blew himself up at the entrance of the mosque and there was an exchange of fire with the other. He was wounded and arrested wearing an explosive belt," the spokesman said.
Earlier reports said that at least three people had died in the attack.

At least three people have been killed in an attack on a Shia mosque in al-Ahsa, eastern Saudi Arabia, sources have told Al Jazeera Arabic.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
In late October, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Najran city, in which at least one person was killed and 16 others were injured.
ISIL had also claimed responsibility for an attack at a mosque inside a special forces headquarters in the city of Abha in early August. Fiften people were killed and nine were wounded in that attack.